The impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) means we are experiencing an unprecedented demand for our services. We know that those with eating disorders are especially vulnerable during this crisis due to heightened anxiety and emotions around food, yet worryingly are often a forgotten group in our society. Although we continue to experience high demand for our services, as a result of reduced funds, we have sadly had to close our Hub support service and reduce our helpline opening hours to three days a week.
Since March, calls to our helpline have increased by 20% from the same time last year, and call duration has gone up by 42%. This means right now, one person may have to call us up to three times to get through. We know how hard it can be for someone to contact us. Often, our helpline staff will be the first or only person they tell about their struggle with eating, and if we cannot answer their call first time, we fear some will believe they may never recover.
Our helpline staff deliver recovery-focused support to thousands each year and without their guidance those who need us the most are more likely to relapse, become more unwell and isolated.
This at a time when increased demand coupled with social distancing restrictions has meant necessary changes and reductions to our recovery focused services such as Befriending and the Support Hub.
In short, with fundraising events cancelled, and donations and grant income declining, we cannot meet this new level of demand for our services without asking for your help.
A single donation of £10 enables us to answer one helpline call from someone struggling right now.
More specifically, if we can raise a total of £25,000 we could recruit additional helpline staff to manage increased demand in the short term but also keep our service open for as many as possible going forward.
We know there are thousands of people and their families in the UK who need our help more than ever. Whatever you can afford, every single penny will help people just like Linzi:
This pandemic makes us feel out of control and for those with eating disorders, trying to cope and control things in their life when everything seems out of control is why the eating disorder seems to be the solution. My weekly call with ABC is a lifeline to me in this terrifying situation
People affected by eating disorders are especially vulnerable at the moment. Media reports of food scarcity and problems obtaining food in normal ways can trigger damaging eating disorder behaviours; either restriction or bingeing. Closure of gyms and leisure facilities increases the feelings of isolation and anxiety. Self-isolation and social distancing can adversely impact mental health yet many counselling and psychological support appointments have been cancelled, delayed or moved online, which does not suit everyone's needs. And most worrying of all, many NHS eating disorder treatment programmes have been delayed or appointments cancelled for the foreseeable future.
We know that financially this is a worrying time for so many, but whatever you can afford, however big or small, will help us continue to support people struggling with an eating disorder and keep our services going through and beyond the Coronavirus crisis. Thank you from us all at Anorexia & Bulimia Care and on behalf of all the people we support.
* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.
